A team from the University of Miami in Florida created the Quiet Ultra-Efficient Integrated Aircraft (QUEIA), which took second place among undergraduate entries in the 2008 Fundamental Aeronautics Student Competition hosted by NASA. Winners were announced on July 7.

QUEIA is a tailless plane in which steering is controlled solely by the wings. A jet system and a highly aerodynamic wing shape eliminate some types of drag that slow down conventional airplanes. The plane also takes off and lands in short distances and requires less fuel.

The University of Miami team included Joseph Dussling, Sebastian Aspe, Nicholas Heinz, and Daniel Martinez.